billy and the big stick-第3章
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Believing he had gone mad； President Ham gazed at him speechless。
〃From here I go to the cable Office； 〃shouted Billy。 〃I cable for
a warship！ If； by to…night； I am not paid my money； marines will
surround our power…house； and the Wilmot people will back me up；
and my government will back me up！〃
It was； so Billy thought； even as he launched it； a tirade
satisfying and magnificent。 But in his turn the president did not
agree。
He rose。 He was a large man。 Billy wondered he had not previously
noticed how very large he was。
〃To…night at nine o'clock；〃 he said； 〃the German boat departs for
New York。〃 As though aiming a pistol； he raised his arm and at
Billy pointed a finger。 〃If； after she departs； you are found in
Port…au…Prince； you will be shot！ 〃
The audience…chamber was hung with great mirrors in frames of
tarnished gilt。 In these Billy saw himself reproduced in a wavering
line of Billies that； like the ghost of Banquo； stretched to the
disappearing point。 Of such images there was an army； but of the
real Billy； as he was acutely conscious； there was but one。 Among
the black faces scowling from the doorways he felt the odds were
against him。 Without making a reply he passed out between the racks
of rusty muskets in the anteroom； between the two Gatling guns
guarding the entrance； and on the palace steps； in indecision；
halted。
As Billy hesitated an officer followed him from the palace and
beckoned to the guard that sat in the bare dust of the Champ de
Mars playing cards for cartridges。 Two abandoned the game； and；
having received their orders； picked their muskets from the dust
and stood looking expectantly at Billy。
They were his escort； and it was evident that until nine o'clock；
when he sailed； his movements would be spied upon； his acts
reported to the president。
Such being the situation； Billy determined that his first act to be
reported should be of a nature to cause the president active mental
anguish。 With his guard at his heels he went directly to the cable
station； and to the Secretary of State of the United States
addressed this message： 〃President refuses my pay； threatens shoot；
wireless nearest war…ship proceed here full speed。 William Barlow。〃
Billy and the director of telegraphs； who out of office hours was
a field…marshal； and when not in his shirt…sleeves always appeared
in uniform； went over each word of the cablegram together。 When
Billy was assured that the field…marshal had grasped the full
significance of it he took it back and added； 〃Love to Aunt Maria。〃
The extra words cost four dollars and eighty cents gold； but； as
they suggested ties of blood between himself and the Secretary of
State； they seemed advisable。 In the account…book in which he
recorded his daily expenditures Billy credited the item to
〃life…insurance。〃
The revised cablegram caused the field…marshal deep concern。 He
frowned at Billy ferociously。
〃I will forward this at once；〃 he promised。 〃But； I warn you；〃 he
added； 〃I deliver also a copy to MY president！〃
Billy sighed hopefully。
〃You might deliver the copy first；〃 he suggested。
From the cable station Billy； still accompanied by his faithful
retainers； returned to the power…house。 There he bade farewell to
the black brothers who had been his assistants； and upon one of
them pressed a sum of money。
As they parted； this one； as though giving the pass…word of a
secret society； chanted solemnly：
〃A BUIT BEURES JUSTE！〃 And Billy clasped his hand and nodded。
At the office of the Royal Dutch West India Line Billy purchased a
ticket to New York and inquired were there many passengers。 〃The
ship is empty；〃 said the agent。
〃I am glad；〃 said Billy； 〃for one of my assistants may come with
me。 He also is being deported。〃
〃You can have as many cabins as you want；〃 said the agent。 〃We are
so sorry to see you go that we will try to make you feel you leave
us on your private yacht。〃
The next two hours Billy spent in seeking out those acquaintances
from whom he could borrow money。 He found that by asking for it in
homoeopathic doses he was able to shame the foreign colony into
loaning him all of one hundred dollars。 This； with what he had in
hand； would take Claire and himself to New York and for a week keep
them alive。 After that he must find work or they must starve。 The
one whose features seemed familiar replied：
〃Still； we are leaving to…night；〃 he said； 〃not on a steamer； but
on a war…ship。〃
〃A war…ship？〃 cried Billy。 His heart beat at high speed。 〃Then；〃 he
exclaimed； 〃you are a naval officer？〃
The young man shook his head and； as though challenging Billy to
make another guess； smiled。
〃Then；〃 Billy complied eagerly； 〃you are a diplomat！ Are you our
new minister？〃
One of the other young men exclaimed reproachfully：
〃You know him perfectly well！〃 he protested。 〃You've seen his
picture thousands of times。〃
With awe and pride he placed his hand on Billy's arm and with the
other pointed at the one in the Panama hat。
〃It's Harry St。 Clair；〃 he announced。 〃Harry St。Clair； the King of
the Movies！〃
〃The King of the Movies；〃 repeated Billy。 His disappointment was so
keen as to be embarrassing。
〃Oh！〃 he exclaimed； 〃I thought you〃 Then he remembered his
manners。 〃Glad to meet you；〃 he said。 〃Seen you on the screen。〃
Again his own troubles took precedence。 〃Did you say；〃 he demanded；
〃One of our war…ships is coming here TO…DAY？〃
〃Coming to take me to Santo Domingo；〃 explained Mr。 St。 Clair。 He
spoke airily； as though to him as a means of locomotion
battle…ships were as trolley…cars。 The Planter's punch； which was
something he had never before encountered； encouraged the great
young man to unbend。 He explained further and fully； and Billy； his
mind intent upon his own affair； pretended to listen。
The United States Government； Mr。 St。 Clair explained； was
assisting him and the Apollo Film Company in producing the
eight…reel film entitled 〃The Man Behind the Gun。〃
With it the Navy Department plotted to advertise the navy and
encourage recruiting。 In moving pictures； in the form of a story；
with love interest； villain； comic relief； and thrills； it would
show the life of American bluejackets afloat and ashore； at home
and abroad。 They would be seen at Yokohama playing baseball with
Tokio University； in the courtyard of the Vatican receiving the
blessing of the Pope； at Waikiki riding the breakers on a
scrubbing…board； in the Philippines eating cocoanuts in the shade
of the sheltering palm； and in Brooklyn in the Y。 M。 C。 A。 club； in
the shadow of the New York sky…scrapers； playing billiards and
reading the sporting extras。
As it would be illustrated on the film the life of 〃The Man Behind
the Gun〃 was one of luxurious ease。 In it coal… passing； standing
watch in a blizzard； and washing down decks； cold and
unsympathetic； held no part。 But to prove that the life of Jack was
not all play he would be seen fighting for the flag。 That was
where； as 〃Lieutenant Hardy； U。 S。 A。；〃 the King of the Movies
entered。
〃Our company arrived in Santo Domingo last week；〃 he explained。
〃And they're waiting for me now。 I'm to lead the attack on the
fortress。 We land in shore boats under the guns of the ship and I
take the fortress。 First； we show the ship clearing for action and
the men lowering the boats and pulling for shore。 Then we cut back
to show the gun…crews serving the guns。 Then we jump to the
landing…party wading through the breakers。 I lead them。 The man who
is carrying the flag gets shot and drops in the surf。 I pick him
up； put him on my shoulder； and carry him and the flag to the
beach； where〃
Billy suddenly awoke。 His tone was one of excited interest。
〃You got a uniform？〃 he demanded。
〃Three；〃 said St。 Clair impressively； 〃made to order according to
regulations on file in the Quartermaster's Department。 Each
absolutely correct。 〃Without too great a show of eagerness he
inquired： 〃Like to see them？〃
Without too great a show of eagerness Billy assured him that he
would。
〃I got to telephone first；〃 he added； 〃but by the time you get your
trunk open I'll join you in your room。〃
In the cafe； over the te
